NU Girl Bulldogs have fun their Nationwide Invitationals crown within the Shakey’s Tremendous League. -SSL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — They might have tempered expectations heading into the event, however NU Girl Bulldogs nonetheless confirmed how formidable their faculty program is with their first Nationwide Invitationals crown within the Shakey’s Tremendous League.
The Girl Bulldogs didn’t subject UAAP Season 86 Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon to recuperate from her harm and additionally they weren’t anticipating Bella Belen and Arah Panique to complete the event as a consequence of their dedication to Alas Pilipinas.
However the stars nonetheless aligned for NU after Alas Pilipinas’ flight to Japan was moved to a later date, permitting the pair to finish their title quest.
READ: NU Girl Bulldogs sweep their option to Tremendous League title anew
Of their second straight five-setter championship sport, Panique and Belen mixed for 52 factors to finish NU’s comeback and title-clinching 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10 win over the gritty Far Japanese College in Recreation 2 on Tuesday night time at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Girl Bulldogs additionally missed Vange Alinsug and Sheena Toring within the championship-clinching sport.
“I need to say that the NU volleyball program established the best method from highschool to school. Although it’s not at all times excellent however the outcomes proved that we’re reaching,” mentioned NU coach Norman Miguel in Filipino.
Panique unleashed a tournament-high 27 factors and Belen, who emerged because the Nationwide Invitationals MVP, delivered 25 factors to finish a collection sweep of the Girl Tamaraws in back-to-back five-setters inside 48 hours.
READ: UAAP: With intact core, NU Girl Bulldogs look to remain contenders
“We’re fortunate as a result of the celebs aligned and their flight to Japan was rescheduled. So the morale of the gamers went up and so they labored more durable,” mentioned Miguel of the the nationwide pair who was purported to solely play within the group stage.
NU, which dominated the 2 SSL preseason tournaments, remained unbeaten in 24 video games capped with its first Nationwide Invitational title since becoming a member of the league two years in the past.
“We have been so pleased to win this championship as a result of our preparation was a bit shaky since most of our gamers got here from South Korea [for a trip] and we solely had 5 days to organize,” Miguel mentioned. “We additionally needed to handle the a great deal of our injured gamers and nationwide group gamers. It’s a must to mix the gamers to have publicity however on the similar time preserve the successful tradition.”
The Girl Bulldogs bought their second crown of the yr after finishing a title-redemption bid within the UAAP Season 86 final Might. They are going to be eyeing a hat trick within the Collegiate Preseason Championship in September.
Belen was additionally named 1st Finest Exterior Spiker with teammates Lams Lamina (Finest Setter) and Shaira Jardio (Finest Libero) additionally successful particular person recognitions.
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Different particular person award winners have been third placer Faculty of Saint Benilde’s Wewe Estoque (2nd Finest Exterior Spiker) and Zam Nolasco (1st Finest Center Blocker), FEU’s Jean Asis (2nd Finest Center Blocker) and Letran’s Judielle Nitura (Finest Reverse Hitter).
